By Dyepkazah Shibayan, The Cable
The Cross River government has clarified that the N5 billion being proposed for the renovation of the governor’s office will also cover the state’s liaison buildings in Abuja and Lagos.
The clarification follows reports that quoted Bassey Otu, governor of the state, as saying that the money would be spent only on the renovation of his office.
In a statement on Friday, Emmanuel Ogbeche, chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, expressed dismay over the attempts by some people to twist the governor’s words.
“The clarification has become necessary in view of the out-of-context report by a segment of the media,” the statement reads.
“As an administration that is accountable to the people, Governor Bassey Otu had in response to a question on his 100 days in office made the point that the cost of renovating the badly rundown Governor’s Office in Calabar as well as the liaison offices and lodges of the state government in Abuja and Lagos could be anything between N3 billion and N5 billion.
“However, we note with dismay the attempt by some segment of the media to twist the governor’s position out of context for the clicks.
“It must be stated that the Government of Senator Otu has one of the most robust palliative rollouts which should be applauded by well-meaning citizens and responsible media organizations rather than the sensational slant in some quarters to the much-needed upgrade of some of its offices.
“For clarity, the Governor’s Office, the liaison offices and lodges are in a gross deplorable state since no meaningful upgrades and maintenance have been carried out on them for over a decade.
“As a People’s First Administration, it is a given that these architectural monuments should be conducive and befitting for the governor and other occupants to meaningfully serve the people optimally.”
The CPS said residents of the state should be more focused on the cash aid that the government would give to workers for the next six months.